(19)
(11) EP 1 643 477 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
14.06.2006 Bulletin 2006/24

(43) Date of publication A2:
05.04.2006 Bulletin 2006/14

(21) Application number: 05256016.6

(22) Date of filing: 27.09.2005
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G09G 3/22(2006.01)
 H01J 1/30(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(30) Priority: 30.09.2004 JP 2004286633

(71) Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
Nagoya-City, Aichi Pref. 467-8530 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Ohwada, Iwao, c/o NGK Insulators Ltd.
    Nagoya City, Aichi-ken, 467-8530 (JP)
  • Akao, Takayoshi, c/o NGK Insulators Ltd.
    Nagoya City, Aichi-ken, 467-8530 (JP)
  • Kameji, Tetsuyuki, c/o NGK Insulators Ltd.
    Nagoya City, Aichi-ken, 467-8530 (JP)
  • Nakamura, Hirokazu, c/o NGK Insulators Ltd.
    Nagoya City, Aichi-ken, 467-8530 (JP)

(74) Representative: Paget, Hugh Charles Edward et al
Mewburn Ellis LLP York House 23 Kingsway
GB-London WC2B 6HP
GB-London WC2B 6HP (GB)

   


(54) Electron-emitting apparatus


(57) An electron emitting apparatus (10) includes a lower electrode (12), an emitter section (13) made of a dielectric material, a plurality of upper electrodes (14) having micro through holes, and a collector electrode (18) opposing the upper electrodes. In this electron-emitting apparatus (10), electrons are accumulated in the emitter section (13) by controlling the potential difference (drive voltage) between the lower (12) and upper (14) electrodes with respect to the potential of the lower electrode (12) to a negative predetermined voltage. At this time, the collector electrode (18) of the electron-emitting apparatus (10) is grounded. Thus, unnecessary electron-emitting is suppressed. Subsequently, the drive voltage is changed to a positive predetermined voltage. As a result, polarization reversal occurs in the emitter section (13), and accumulated electros are emitted through the micro through holes in the upper electrodes (14) by Coulomb repulsion. At this time, a positive voltage Vc is applied to the collector electrode (18) to give large energy to accelerate the electrons.







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